New clients assume that the size of their decorating budget is in direct correlation to how happy I and they are with the finished product.  This is truly not the case.  For example,  I recently completed a one room project for a young woman living in her first house.  She had a spare bedroom that she was using as an office but she wasn't happy with how it functioned or how it looked.  She was interested in moving the desk into the closet so that the rest of the space could be used as a lounge/study.  You can read about and see the transformation of the closet in the blog I posted on April 25th (Converting a Closet to an Office).

Before

Before

A few paychecks later, she was ready to furnish the rest of the room.  My client had a few pieces she definitely wanted to keep: an art-deco wing chair covered in black leather with white piping, some of her artwork, and her pink dress form.  I was happy to accommodate these requests.  I also suggested keeping the hot pink Ikea bookcase. By turning it on its side, we were able to use it as our media console and still have storage for books. A budget friendly solution.

I often consider furniture made for children when furnishing small spaces. In this case, we used a love seat in a light gray fabric with tufting detail from PB Teen. Using a "teen" company allowed us to find a piece that was smaller in scale (just what we needed for this petite lounge).


To go beside the love seat, we found a three tier glass and brass table from West Elm.  The three glass tiers gave us the function we needed without making the space feel crowded, while also relating to our Ghost style chair in the desk area.  A white ceramic lamp from Z Gallerie atop the glass table provides light and some feminine curves. The only other piece of furniture we purchased was West Elm's Martini table in white.  This petite table provides a place to set a glass or the remote but keeps the space feeling open and can easily be moved to anywhere it is needed.

The final touches are what really put this room over the top.  The hot pink and cream toile drapery in a Robert Allen fabric gives a nod to our Parisian mural on the desk wall.  Pillows in the same fabric really pop on our gray couch and bring a little pink to that side of the room.  A few more gold accents were added for sparkle and the client's artwork was hung back on the walls.

I love the way the space turned out and so does my client.  I've had clients with bigger budgets but this room is one of my favorites.  We were able to give her an office and a lounge in 120 square feet, marrying function and style. It seems perfectly suited for a young professional woman.  The pink little girl's room all grown up!

When describing a room, magazines will often use the word “Timeless” to capture the elegant and everlasting quality of a space. How do we design a room to be “timeless”? What is the difference between good design and great design?  In the coming months I will start a series of blog entries on 20th century rooms and what makes them appealing to us today.  I will also suggest changes that could be made to bring the rooms into the 21st century. I hope that this will serve as a guide to anyone seeking to understand how design works, the trends involved, and where things change and where they stay the same. 

Living Room by the late Mark Hampton
Photo by Durston Saylor for Architectural Digest
Published in 1996

Classic pieces are understood to last, but what makes a piece a classic? Trends are best used in small amounts, but where can I use them and still keep my room looking updated and current? This series of rooms will be a fun way to explore these and other questions that a decorator can help answer. I also hope that this will give you general knowledge of some famous designers and what made them great.

Decorating a room doesn't have to be a never ending project, but it also isn't something that we can set aside for years at a time. In these blogs I hope to show you quick ways to keep a space fresh and new feeling, without having to start over every couple of years.

In my last blog about my daughter's rental property, the main living room was unfinished, but on its way to becoming a place that she could call home. In the ensuing months she and I have worked to create a homey feel on a very tight budget. The first thing we installed were her bamboo shades. An inexpensive choice for a room with a large window but also an attractive one. With a little help, my daughter found blinds that she liked on sale, saving her about $200. The shades add texture and color while providing much needed privacy from the street.

The next item on the to-do list was a rug.  Rugs can be expensive with custom rugs costing thousands of dollars. An expensive rug was impractical for a young woman starting out and impossible on a budget from a just-out-of-college job. However, the space really needed the warmth and softness that a rug provides. Instead of a ready made rug we purchased a carpet remnant and had it cut and bound to perfectly fit the space.

Our next step was to add curtains to give this small space some height. I love curtains because they are a great way to add color and pattern and can really make a room feel finished.  We worked to find the perfect fabric.  With a little research and time we managed to find her dream fabric discounted by $15 a yard, saving her around $100 in the end. Having a pair of side panels made is not terribly expensive but they make such a difference! We were careful to make her curtains in a size that would work in any space with 8' ceilings. When she moves onto her next home, she will have curtains that she can use again. I purchased the curtain hardware on clearance from one of my suppliers, saving about 50%.

With some time, effort, and a little bit of luck, the space came together to create a modern room for a young woman. The final result is a comfortable, custom-looking space that my daughter is proud to call her first home and we didn't bust the budget!

Decorating, like any other creative endeavor, goes through changes as styles and tastes change.  Today I wanted to write about trends that I am currently seeing in decorating.  Most of my clients want their homes to be current but not too trendy.  For big ticket items, I prefer classic and timeless choices.  I save the trends for smaller and easily updated items.  The trick is to know the difference between a trend that will soon fade and a new classic with longevity.  Here are my thoughts on some of the newest decorating styles.

1.  Ikats. You may not know what it is called but you have most likely seen this textile pattern in design magazines and at retailers. Ikat, pronounced e-cat, is an ancient pattern that has become very popular in today's interiors. The graphic nature of this pattern makes it work with many different styles and it is available in a wide range of color combinations. My recommendation is to use ikat patterns to update your decor but use them on items that are easily changed: throw pillows, small chairs, window treatments, etc. Although I expect ikats to be around for a few more years, I see them as a trend.

2.  Quartz Composite Counters. For years the go to material for countertops has been granite and other natural stones. Quartz composite is changing that. A man-made material, available in a wide range of colors and patterns, it is more durable than granite, doesn't require sealing and is relatively 'green'. I was quick to jump on the quartz bandwagon, first using it 10 years ago, and I still love it.  This is a trend with real staying power.

3.  Gold metals.  Silver has been the metal of choice for hardware, light fixtures and accent pieces for many years. But now I am seeing a shift from silver to gold. For those of you who are shuddering and having laquered brass flashbacks, don't worry. The new gold finish is much softer, often with a more satin or burnished finish than what we saw in the 90's. The good news for everyone is that it is perfectly acceptable to mix metal finishes so if everything in your house is silver, you don't need to start over to embrace this trend. You can introduce gold in a lamp, a vase or a picture frame.

4.  Gray. If you don't know already, gray is the new beige.  After twenty years of beige being the 'go-to' neutral, gray is coming on strong. Just like beige, gray comes in many shades and can work with a wide range of colors in a wide range of environments.  The only caveat I would offer is that it is hard to introduce gray into an all beige environment.  Gray will be here for a while so consider it as an alternative to beige or white.

5.  Outdoor Living.  Over the last few years, furnishings for outdoor spaces have become more and more like their indoor counterparts.  Outdoor fabrics are now almost indiscernible from indoor.  Fully upholstered outdoor pieces offer comfort and quick drying features.  Water and electricity usually don't mix but there are lamps designed for outdoor use.  Overall the line between indoor and outdoor spaces has blurred giving our homes more usable square footage.  I expect this trend to continue.

If you want to freshen up your home, try adopting one or more of these trends.  Just invest your money wisely and if you need help, you know who to call.

You've painted the walls, re-arranged the furniture, and moved all of your DVDs into your media console, but your room just doesn't feel done. Why? Normally when a client asks this question it's because their room still isn't done. What makes a room feel finished and purposeful in its design? I would say there are a couple of key items that push a room from "yawn" to "Wow!". Specifically, every room needs: window treatments, art and accessories.

Window Treatments:

Window treatments frequently come with your home in the form of blinds, shades, or something equally functional and utilitarian. These are fine in that they keep the sun out of your space and allow you some control of whether or not you're going to be sleeping in on Sunday. But a room doesn't really have that finished quality until the windows have been thoughtfully dressed. Be it a tiny valance in your bathroom, or formal drapes in your dining room, window treatments can be the difference between bland and beautiful.  Fabric treatments are a great opportunity to add color, pattern, and softness.  I love installing window treatments because of the reactions I get from my clients.  They are usually amazed by how much difference they make in a room and how it elevates the whole design of the space.

Art:

Sometimes I go into a client's house and find art or pictures on every single available wall space, but more often I go into a space and find that there is very little art. Art is one of the last things we place in a room, and it is oftentimes the most personal. Family portraits and your art choices give a sense of the people who live in a house. Choose your art carefully, art is one of those things where quality shows.  So buy the best art you can afford, buy something you love, and hang it up!

Accessories:

Like art, sometimes I come into a home and every available surface is used for display, often this gives the impression of clutter. More often, however, I go into a home and find that there are empty bookshelves, bare coffee tables, and empty cabinets. Just as the right earrings or a great pair of shoes can make an outfit, great accessories can take your room to the next level.

When working on your home remember not to stop at furniture, or paint, but to finish what you have started. A home is a place you spend time in, raise a family in, and live life in, it should be a place where you feel happy and complete.

In light of the upcoming holiday, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge fathers.  When it comes to home decor, men often take a backseat to the women in their lives.  When it comes to family, men have a very important and difficult role to fulfill.

I am fortunate to have many wonderful men in my life who have taken on the role of a father and done it well.  First and foremost is my own father.  I know from speaking to other women, and personal experience, how important being loved and accepted by the first man in your life is to your self-esteem.  I am blessed to have a father who makes me feel special, loved, and accepted everyday of my life.  My husband, the second important man to enter my life, has been a devoted father to our two (now adult) children.  From sporting events, camping trips and family vacations to everyday dinners at the kitchen table, he has made his children a priority in his life.

My husband brought two more wonderful men into my life, my father-in-law and my son.  I appreciate the love and support my father-in-law has always shown me.  He welcomed me into his family and into his heart and I will always be grateful.  It remains to be seen what kind of father my son will be.  I am confident that with the positive examples he has grown up with, he will continue his legacy of love and devotion.

So, thank you to my father, my husband and my father-in-law for enriching my life.  I know I am blessed to have you all.  Happy Father's Day to you and to good fathers every where!

1

How to Use Mirrors In Your Home

Why do we keep the flat, sheet mirrors that our contractors install? And why do we buy the mirror that matches the dresser?  I find that clients imitate what they see in the furniture store, or do what the previous owners of their home did. But, why? There are so many creative and interesting options. Today's blog is about the many uses of mirrors in your home and how the mirror you choose can reflect you and your style.

2

A small bathroom (1) can be a tough place to create a sense of space, but I've found that a couple of impact pieces can lighten these sometimes cramped areas considerably. A good place to throw in  a great accent piece is over the sink. Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes and finding the perfect one can be difficult, but when you do it can bring about a great result. For example, this powder room is near the entry in the more formal part of the house. It had to be sophisticated but also bright and welcoming. The use of a Venetian style mirror brings reflected light and glamour.

Traditionally people think of bathrooms as the place where we have mirrors, but a mirror in the bedroom is a useful and beautiful tool. This bedroom (2 - 3) had a cozy feel with the fireplace lit, and plenty of light with a wall full of windows, but

3

with a fireplace as a centerpiece and an equally strong focus placed on the bed with a patterned comforter, the mantel was a place to introduce calm. The mirror reflects the focus of the room, the bed, and is simple enough not to detract from the fireplace, but to enhance it. With a gilt frame, this mirror complements the elegance of the room without overwhelming the homier touches.

4

It's true that bathrooms are the traditional location for a mirror, but often people overlook the different styles of mirror that they can place in a bathroom. The simplicity of an oval shaped mirror can make a bathroom stand apart. This one is off of a cozy family room. We combined classic fixtures in an updated brushed nickel finish with a quartz countertop and added a gorgeous antique wooden mirror. Because of its simplicity, a piece like this can be used all over your home, and can be moved about for a quick change to your décor. The wood finish allows it to fit in informal spaces like a bedroom, while the brass inlay gives it enough style to work in more sophisticated areas like a formal living room.

Oftentimes when buying a mirror, clients go for the trendy, or "in" piece, a practice I don't disagree with; however, there is a way to be trendy while still buying a piece that will work, even when the trend has passed. To work with the popular sunburst mirror trend, I chose a mirror that may still technically be "sunburst" but is a little more unusual. This gives the trendy vibe we wanted for this family area without the downside of having a statement piece that will be out of style in a year or two.

5

The almost brutalist style of the mirror brings texture and sparkle to the chocolate brown wall.  Using a mirror over the sofa allowed light into an otherwise dark area.

When working with mirrors remember, you don't have to go with what is "expected"or part of a set, but you can instead pick what you feel works best in your space as well as what makes you feel like this house is your home.

Before: Peninsula Separating Kitchen from Great Room

When you picture a home in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, you might imagine rustic spaces, a roaring fire and cozy furniture. Well this house was so not that! The previous owners seemed to think they were in Palm Beach.  Lily Pulitzer pinks, lime green and yellow were everywhere!  This 70's era home needed a serious facelift.  It was a close contest, but I think the award for the ugliest room in the house had to go to the kitchen.

Before: Looking Into Kitchen

Before: Original Cabinetry and Appliances

The kitchen was terrible. When I say terrible, you’d better believe it was awful. Bright yellow and brown cabinetry, mismatched appliances, orange-hued pine paneling, closed in corners, wavy vinyl floors, yuck! And even though the space is right off of the main living area, upper cabinets and a single opening, made the kitchen feel closed off and separate from the rest of the house. We immediately went to work (or my contractor did), gutting the whole kitchen.  We planned on opening up the space by getting rid of some upper cabinets and adding an island.  This gave us a nice "U" shaped layout and good flow.  To save on costs, we kept appliances in their original places, adding a vented hood over the stove and tucking the microwave into the new island. We also gained a nice bar area for casual dining.

Midway

I love color, it’s true, but yellow was not doing it for me, and while the overall color scheme for the house is blue and green with touches of brown, I decided that this room needed to be bright so that meant white.  All white cabinetry is a classic, and quartz countertops with a soft gray limestone look gives a little contrast.  The gray tones look great with the new stainless appliances and relate to the gray stone fireplace in the adjacent space.  We eliminated the paneling on the walls and added a wood plank ceiling for warmth.  The wood ceiling continues into the adjacent space which visually ties the spaces together.

Almost There!

Finally, we added our color with pops of blue on the countertops, pretty accessories, and cookbooks in the built ins. The wrought iron lights and bronze finish on the hardware bring a touch of that rusticity that seems so suited to a mountain home. A pretty curtain for the window will be the finishing touch. Quite a transformation!

After: The new brighter, more welcoming space.

When people see beautiful pictures of a professionally decorated home they often think that they could never afford to hire a decorator. Many people believe that to afford a decorator you have to be wealthy but a home can be beautifully decorated on a small budget with smart choices and carefully selected pieces. Good decorators work together with their clients and their client's budgets to create a beautiful and functional space.

Recently I had the opportunity of working with a wonderful young couple buying and furnishing their first home. They had a small budget and they wanted to hire a decorator to help with much of the first floor of their house. The wife told me that she had interviewed several decorators that didn't want to work with her because the budget was too small but I was up for the challenge.  I am glad I took the job because they were wonderful clients and we all loved the results!

To furnish the living area, dining area and foyer within our budget, we used readily available pieces from a variety of retail and resale sources, nothing custom. We skipped drapes in the main area, but brought them into the front hall for big impact. These ready made drapes bring in some color and accentuate the height of the two story foyer. A large hanging light fixture also emphasizes the ceiling height while adding a bit of 'wow'.

In the dining space, two host chairs were placed at either end of the dining table for color, and antique store chairs (only $40 each!) were used along the sides of the table allowing seating for up to eight people. The oval table has a soft gray finish which relates to the gray sofas in the living area. Replacing the builder-grade chandelier with something prettier was the finishing touch.

We chose two sofas for the living area, a bit of nailhead trim makes these budget friendly sofas look more high end.  One pricey accent pillow on a sofa is surrounded by more budget friendly finds. An accent chair in a bold floral pattern brings in a bit of fun.  The media console was our biggest splurge and way over budget but we all felt it was the perfect piece for the room.  Finishing touches include a trellis pattern rug, blue-gray lamps and a silver garden stool to bring in a little shine.

 Overall, we came in right on budget.  We were able to offset our media console "splurge" by staying under budget on other pieces. I think this project proves that a space can be functional, pretty, and affordable!

So can you afford a decorator? The answer may be "Yes"! You don't know until you ask. If you have a room that needs decorating, you have to be realistic about what furnishings cost. But, with some savvy shopping, you can work within your budget, and have a better result, thanks to a decorator. Think of a decorator as an investment in your home. You want your investment to look its best, and a decorator helps you to accomplish that, even on a small budget.

Before Painting

When my daughter first moved into her little rental property it had just been entirely renovated by one of our neighbors (her new landlord). Predictably, he painted all the walls in the entire house the same peachy beige color. Now, if you know anything about me you know that I love color, and this preference has rubbed off on my daughter. Luckily, we have a landlord who is very accommodating, and he gave us permission  to paint the walls.

The Primary Wall Color

After: Walls Painted In Living Area

The first room we went to work on was her bedroom.  Often bedrooms are saved for last in a home, but we didn’t want that to happen. So before we did anything we painted her room a soft, green color to match her bedding and style. With that easily completed in an afternoon, we moved on to the living area. Here we decided to go with a light aqua blue. This soft blue can appear to be almost robin’s egg in the daylight, and at night appears sea foam green. Finally, we painted an accent wall in her dining area to create separation from the main living space. Here we got to have a little fun with color. While it’s obvious from my decorating that I love blue and all its variations, it’s safe to say that my daughter loves blues and greens as well. She chose a vibrant teal for the accent wall.

The addition of a mid-century modern dining set (an antique store find) updated with some vintage fabric (also an antique store find) gave her a cute and colorful dining space for her tiny 50s home.

After: Accent Wall

A fun project was presented to me recently in the form of a home office. The original space was overwhelmed with a desk and chair in the center of the room, allowing for no other activities in the limited space. To maximize the space, the client wanted to make the closet into an office, allowing the rest of the room to be a cozy relaxing place to hang out.

Before: Desk is literally in the center of the space.

Closet before

To start, all of the previously stored items in the closet were removed. The client, a young, design savvy, professional woman shared some pictures she had found on Houzz of built in desk areas.  She had some great pictures with some clever design solutions.  My challenge was how to give her something different from what she had already seen but not make it so "designed" that it was more about form than function!  I knew I wanted to do something interesting with the wall because this is what the client would be looking at as she sat at her desk. My brilliant assistant and I started brainstorming ways of making the small space interesting. We discussed some standard solutions for office closets, and came up with unique paint applications, wallpaper, and creative shelving solutions or cork boards, but what really inspired us, and caught our clients attention, was the idea of a mural. 

Mural after installation

My client came to me with an established color scheme of gray and pink, which I loved. The gray walls led me to settle on a black and white mural on the closet wall. Now to find the perfect photograph. I had it in my head that I wanted a Parisian street scene and after surfing the web, we found what I think is the perfect picture. The mural is what makes this space interesting and unique while not sacrificing any function. The other inspired purchase was a reproduction ghost chair.  I give credit to my client (I told you she was design savvy) for suggesting it. The chair's classic french shape subtly ties into the Parisian mural. A desktop and shelving were installed next. Pink accents and accessories really pop against the gray and white background.

This room is still a work in progress, but in the weeks to come we will add a sofa, draperies, and fun accents to bring this room to a spectacular finish. What had been a functional but uninspired office, has now become a fun and stylish workspace for this young client. 

After 

Those who know me best, know that there are two activities that I am passionate about ---- decorating and singing.  Now, I'm no Carrie Underwood, but I have a little talent and a lot of enthusiasm.  The (public) place I get to exercise my passion for singing is in church.  This past Sunday was Palm Sunday which is a Sunday of celebration before the solemnity of Good Friday and the joy of Easter.  We have a new choir director this year and for her first Easter season in our church she chose some beautiful and difficult classical pieces that we performed on Palm Sunday.  These along with some readings by the pastor told the story of Easter.  Now, I don't know why but composers of Easter music always throw in a lot of high notes.  Hmmm, maybe they want us to end the Easter service on a high note, literally. Anyway, as a first soprano, it is up to me to try and sing those high notes.  Let me tell you, they don't get any easier as I get older!  I did my best but I am sure I didn't do the music justice.

One of the fun things about sitting in the choir loft is being able to look out at the congregation.  Of course, the bad thing about sitting in the choir loft is we are always looking at the back of the preacher's head during the sermon and every one can see you so you always have to be on your best behavior. But I digress.  It is the tradition in many churches, including mine, that on Palm Sunday, whilst carrying palm fronds, the children of the church progress down the center aisle from the back of the church to the front, right toward the choir loft.  It is always entertaining to see the kids marching in with their palm fronds waving. This past Sunday they were singing as they came and lined up in the front of the church to finish their song and wave their branches.  It seems that child singers either have talent or enthusiasm, but rarely both! Regardless, I always enjoy the joyful noise.  I was really entertained by one boy with a palm frond in each hand.  His energetic waving made me wonder if he was trying to land some imaginary jet liner.  He was certainly more interested in waving than in singing which is often the way with young boys.  God bless him!

Happy Easter to you all!  Wishing you and yours an Easter basket filled with gooey Peeps, colorful jelly beans and chocolate bunnies!!

Hello, again! Wow, so far this year has been a busy one for Gail Barley Interiors. In addition to many decorating projects with some great clients and interesting spaces, here’s a quick update to let you know what we've been doing.

Gail Barley Interiors was a featured designer on Wayfair.com in their Inspiration Gallery. I was asked all kinds of questions about my design process. I was honored to be featured on this nation-wide site.  If you would like to see the article, here is the link: www.wayfair.com.

Another exciting moment for me was when Houzz, a popular decorating and home website, gave me the Best of Houzz 2014 Award in Customer Satisfaction. Here’s a little bit about what that means as described by Houzz: “Chosen by the more than 16 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community,” Gail Barley Interiors was awarded, The Best Of Houzz. “Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2013."  If you would like to check it out, feel free to click the link: www.houzz.com.

Late in March was the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers Annual Meeting. The meeting was attended by 1400 people and, as the AFPM website describes, it is "the world's premier refining meeting, assembling key executives, decision-makers, and technical experts from refining businesses, technology providers, contracting and consulting firms, and equipment manufacturers around the world". I know this doesn’t sound like it has anything to do with decorating but I was chosen as a speaker for the Spousal Event on the first day of the three day convention. I spoke to this group about how to use color in your home instead of falling back on "safe", neutral colors. In my seminar titled, “Beyond Beige” we discussed how to decorate with color to give your home personality and to make a home a personal reflection of the people who live there. After the powerpoint presentation, there was a Q & A time followed by a hands on session where participants used fabric swatches, wallpaper samples and paint chips to create an inspiration page for their own homes. Each participant left with a custom journal, created and designed by Gail Barley Interiors, to help her on her way to designing her own home, hopefully, without defaulting to beige! It was a wonderful time and I met some amazing women.

Suffice it to say it’s been a busy winter, not that I’m complaining!

Before

   Upon moving into her new rental space, my daughter found that turning a house into a home takes a considerable amount of work. As she was moving into her house she spotted some kitchen chairs on the side of the road and having a very small furniture budget and knowing potential, she picked them up. These four little chairs had seen better days, wooden, with an outdated finish, and hideous, worn, green plaid upholstery, they had been left for dead. The following weekend she started the process of bringing these chairs back to life. With some decorating-mother tips, she was able to do just that. We went online and found some sale fabric with a cute, hip design. For $30 she had enough fabric to reupholster the chairs herself. 

Fabric from Greenhouse Fabrics

   With a fabric sample in hand she ran out to the local hardware store and quickly snatched up an entire inventory’s worth of light blue spray paint, the perfect match to the accent color in the pattern we had chosen. Armed with a spray can and a face mask, she worked diligently in the backyard on a Saturday afternoon and turned the chairs from pine-y brown into a bright and fun aqua. With step one a success, she took her fabric, staple gun, and new batting and set out to recover her chairs with our new fabric choice. Two busy days later, she had her end result: a set of chairs that matched her home and personality while providing plenty of space for her friends to sit while chatting and playing ping pong on the back porch.

After

    Sometimes the answer to "should I leave that in the garbage" is an easy and obvious "yes", and sometimes it takes some discernment. My advice, if you have a place for it, you have the skills to bring it back to life, and you have the time, then grab that "trash" in a hot second. But if you don't answer yes to all of these, it really is garbage so leave it for the trash collector.

Most of the clients who contact me have never worked with a decorator before and don't know what to expect from me or the process.  Assuming that you have chosen wisely, and you and your decorator have a good understanding and vision for your space, here are three easy steps to ensure a productive and mutually satisfying design partnership:

1.  Be Decisive.  This is the single most important factor in whether or not your design process runs smoothly and proceeds in a timely manner.  As a decorator, I can't do anything without first getting your approval.  For everything from budgeting to window treatments to delivery times,  I need your input.   I can recommend many things but unless you can pick one and not vacillate, nothing gets accomplished.

2.  Be Honest. If you don't like the things your decorator is doing or the direction the project is going, say so!  If you hate every one of the five chairs you were shown make that clear. But don't stop there, explain what you don't like.  Is it the color, the style, the price?  If you don't make your objections clear you are likely to get more of the same.  Having said that, the choices your decorator makes are not random.  Tell your decorator your concerns and then give her the chance to explain why she made her choices.  The decorator is looking at the big picture and how all the elements of a room come together.  She should be able to articulate the reasons for her choices.


3.  Trust me!  By saying "trust me", I am really saying trust yourself.  You chose your decorator because you like her work and have a good rapport.  Have faith that what she is recommending and suggesting has been thoughtfully and professionally done. Trust that there has been consideration given to budget, personal preferences, timeline and overall outcome. This doesn't mean hand over the keys and the check book and go on vacation. It does mean that you don't question every decision and ask for justification of every choice.  After all, people hire decorators to do what they can't or won't do themselves.  You have to trust in your decorator's talent, knowledge and experience.  If you don't trust your decorator, terminate the relationship and find another decorator.

For me, the best jobs are those that deliver a product that my client is thrilled with, but the most satisfying jobs are those that run smoothly, stay on budget, and result in a good design.

Now that you have these guidelines, call a decorator and get started on your dream home!